KFX or 400ex ? [Archive] - ATV Riders Forum

exrider123

10-30-2003, 06:54 PM

I cant decide if i want to sell me 400ex and buy a kfx...how does a kfx handle compared to the 400ex ? and how else does it compare ? thanks

Toadz400

10-30-2003, 07:02 PM

get a kfx, the handling seems to be good on them, and they seem to be reliable, plus they are liquid cooled and i wish i would've gotten a kfx instead of an EX now that i really think about it.

ReconRider25

10-30-2003, 07:27 PM

why not keep the 400ex and wait to see how the 450r is?

exrider123

10-30-2003, 07:32 PM

Originally posted by ReconRider25
why not keep the 400ex and wait to see how the 450r is?

because I am also buying a truck so im on a budget.

nacs400ex

10-30-2003, 07:35 PM

400ex, cause then you can use the money you save ( instead of buying the kfx) and throw it into the ex.

Chanman420q

10-30-2003, 07:52 PM

if u do start saving for a new frame

400exrules

10-30-2003, 08:09 PM

if you get a KFX, plan on stayin on the ground, unless your gettin a new frame

exrider123

10-30-2003, 08:15 PM

is the frame that bad on all kfx?

400exrules

10-30-2003, 08:17 PM

i hear they bend easily, ive seen a pick of the aftermath of a 400ex and a Z400 head on collision,
Z400 =bent frame
400ex =bent bumper

could someone post that pick

Pappy

10-30-2003, 08:20 PM

if all your going to do is trail ride and goof off then get the kawi. if you plan on doing any signifigant amount of jumping then get the honda. yes...the frames suck on the kawi.

exrider123

10-30-2003, 08:27 PM

is this the same on z400's ?

400exrules

10-30-2003, 08:30 PM

yup, they are the same thing

RiPPiNiTuP7

10-30-2003, 08:35 PM

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pcbb3f438f68db4ae0a9a3de0f43ee775/fbda3763.jpg

400exrules

10-30-2003, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by RiPPiNiTuP7
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pcbb3f438f68db4ae0a9a3de0f43ee775/fbda3763.jpg

that says it all

bone705

10-30-2003, 08:46 PM

if i was going to get the kawi i wouldnt get anything older then the 04 model. they supposely fixed the frames and u get the removable grab bar. what were they thinking making the grab bar attached to the frame in the early models???:rolleyes:

batgeek

10-30-2003, 08:49 PM

please dont comment on what you dont know.

i have had a KFX since Oct of last year. i have jumped it at Little Sahara, ECMX and Danville. not to mention the abuse i put it thru on trail rides in H/M, Brown Mountain NC, Uhwarrie NC, and jumping the h3ll out of it at a local sand pit.

i have rolled it a few times. bashed it and ride it like it was stolen.

my frame is fine, i have the regular stress marks that you would find on any quad.

no my frame is not gusseted yet. the frame issue on the Z400 and KFX400 was addressed in the later half of 2002. if you bought your quad after August, you shouldn't be having problems with your quad.

Pappy

10-30-2003, 08:52 PM

unfortunately i know all to well about the z400/kfx frame. i think its a nice quad overall...but after seeing the carnage first hand i wont be buying one. well i shouldnt say that....i dont go big so it wouldnt concern me. search the non- honda forum for a thread from last year when they where getting popular...i commented on the frame at that time....unfortuanetly i was correct. i dont believe any upgrades were made unless they were done very very late 2002 models

batgeek

10-30-2003, 08:57 PM

they had the same issue with the frames as they did with the axles. once they started getting their steel from another supplier, things changed. and yes, there were changes to the upper shock mounts on the later 2002 models.

Pappy

10-30-2003, 09:00 PM

thats good to hear. we didnt have troubles with the upper shock mounts...it was where the stem bearing mount is(very weak) we bent the right frame tube 3 times (thats gonna happen when ya hit tree's) and now the entire upper area where the top frame rails meet the "up" tubes and rear shock mount area are all cracked up. 1 season of racing....albiet very very HARD racing. the same rider campaigned a 400ex ungusseted for 2 years at near the same level and other then blowing an engine suffered no frame tweakage

batgeek

10-30-2003, 09:01 PM

well if yer gonna do anything hard, i suggest gusseting no matter what quad yer riding :D

i'm lazy and don't want to tear down my quad to gusset it. i'll just wait til something snaps then i'll do it(wex310R has MAD welding skills) :) and send it to you to PC it :D

Pappy

10-30-2003, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by batgeek
well if yer gonna do anything hard, i suggest gusseting no matter what quad yer riding :D

absolutley correct. we are finding info now on what we can and cant do to the new honda frame to run the stock class. as soon as it arrives it will be torn apart and any weak spots or known problem areas addressed.

i like the kfx ..especially the way it looks over the z400. if i had to have one quad for general riding i wouldnt pass on it. the liquid cooling and reverse are 2 huge selling points. the power that can be wrung outta the engine is pretty damn impressive. i never liked the way harlens Z felt....too me it was very nose heavy. the longer swing arm is the culprit but didnt suit me at all. a stock z isnt too bad handling either.

Pappy

10-30-2003, 09:07 PM

and yes a Z will fly:D

batgeek

10-30-2003, 09:08 PM

well, the only thing that tweaks me is how easy it is to get the front end up. sometimes i do it without wanting to do it :(

did Harlen go +1 on the swingarm length? cuz i was thinking about doing that to mine to tame that lofty front end.

Pappy

10-30-2003, 09:10 PM

yep...i dunno what length he has but it does the job of keeping the front end planted. the engine is what impressed me...it hauls butt for a mild engine

cool 300ex

10-30-2003, 10:01 PM

Even on the 03 models they fixed that axle and frame trouble. It was only on the first few. MY z has been wercked over some hige rocks and nothing happened to it. I love my z there a great quad.

Zero74

10-30-2003, 11:48 PM

Frame issue is suppose to be fixed for 2004. As far as my 2003 kfx, havent noticed any frame cracking issues. you can probably get an 04 for $5k or less out the door, new 450r will run about a grand more. truthfully, i'd wait till the 450r comes out and just save a little more money to buy that bike if it performs the way its suppose to perform.

TGW_400ex

10-31-2003, 04:23 AM

Sounds like a waste to waste that much money just to gain 3hp. Just keep the ex and do some engine work and it will be as fast and you will have spent less money:cool:

khen

10-31-2003, 07:05 AM

Here is a good deal on one on ebay, I'm not sure if the frame is a bit tweaked. LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42592&item=2440438304

:eek2:

spincr4hire

10-31-2003, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by batgeek
well, the only thing that tweaks me is how easy it is to get the front end up. sometimes i do it without wanting to do it :(

did Harlen go +1 on the swingarm length? cuz i was thinking about doing that to mine to tame that lofty front end.

Batgeek,
Changing the crap stock swingarm will help with that, I have the +1.25 Burgard as well. Plus changing out the front stock shocks will help keep the front end down (Elka's w/SSD).
I haven't had any problems with frame cracks/stress marks yet, but I think I'm breaking the Z down this winter to gusset the frame and ad some bling-bling pc.

popo

10-31-2003, 07:56 AM

Please….. there is no room to throw stones about Z-400 frames breaking.

Don't tell me you not seen a 400EX frame broke.

It only took Honda almost 6 years to come out with a new sport-racing quad similar to the same old 400EX year after year.

Both quads are excellent in handling. But compare the facts such as liquid cooling, reverse Etc.

Any quad has growing problems.

markeg192

10-31-2003, 08:18 AM

Originally posted by popo
Please….. there is no room to throw stones about Z-400 frames breaking.

Don't tell me you not seen a 400EX frame broke.

It only took Honda almost 6 years to come out with a new sport-racing quad similar to the same old 400EX year after year.

Both quads are excellent in handling. But compare the facts such as liquid cooling, reverse Etc.

Any quad has growing problems.

Yeah right and in those six years the EX was dominating everything out there!!! If it's not broke why fix it?

popo

10-31-2003, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by markeg192
Yeah right and in those six years the EX was dominating everything out there!!! If it's not broke why fix it?

OK name it?

GNCC Championships "nope" 250R

GNC ?

4 stroke nat. "nope" KFX 400

Your saying you have never seen a 400EX broken frame.

kgbg

10-31-2003, 09:18 AM

I have an 01 4ooex, w/ a cracked fream in three spots. I don't mx, well I hav taken 8 laps around a track.
I have a 03 Z400 w/ no cracks, stress marks, paint chiping.
How bout them apples?
I love them both, but there is no question wha tthe better bike is.

markeg192

10-31-2003, 03:45 PM

Originally posted by popo
OK name it?

GNCC Championships "nope" 250R

GNC ?

4 stroke nat. "nope" KFX 400

Your saying you have never seen a 400EX broken frame.

Well I think a 400EX just won the GNCC A Class didn't it? AND the B Class at the 12 hour race? I'm in Missouri and EX's been winning more classes here than anything else.
The quads you call 250r's ane not 250R's. the transmission is about all that is from a250R.

kgbg

10-31-2003, 03:47 PM

The quads you call 400 ex are not really 400ex's either then, just trannys.

10-31-2003, 04:00 PM

ok girls, all frames crack, most crack from rider in expirience, casing jumps, landing rough etc, the z 400 and kfx frames apparently crack under normal and light mx which is a joke, my ex frame cracked after 3 years, i got it welded and gusseted and its been fine ever since, i got alot of races on it too, aroun 40 races prob, and it had like 3 maybe 4 cracks, after 3 years tho

and what kfx won gnc ? just the 4 stroke nationals, and he won on a 400ex before that, hed prob win on a raptor, kfx/z400 are nice but i just see too many problems with them to consider buying one

kgbg

10-31-2003, 04:07 PM

Freeride ie exactly right. If you are going to race a quad, you better take it to have the frame gusseted before you race. If you don't its your own fault that it broke. A z400 w/ a gussetted frame (who runs a stock axle anyway?) is a better quad than a 400ex without a gusseted frame IMO.
My 400ex has never rolled, wrecked, and its had broke 3 times, I have gussetted it now, it won't break.

markeg192

10-31-2003, 07:07 PM

I agree with Freeride also but I think you should reread what he said.

TGW_400ex

11-01-2003, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by kgbg
Freeride ie exactly right. If you are going to race a quad, you better take it to have the frame gusseted before you race. If you don't its your own fault that it broke. A z400 w/ a gussetted frame (who runs a stock axle anyway?) is a better quad than a 400ex without a gusseted frame IMO.
My 400ex has never rolled, wrecked, and its had broke 3 times, I have gussetted it now, it won't break.

If u were tryin to defend the Z/KFX i think you just bashed it with what you said:eek2:

ridesa02400EX

11-01-2003, 07:17 PM

my friend bought a kfx and within the first week that he bought it they took it to sand mountain and broke the swingarm. Now he races it and told me about how he cracked his frame.

11-01-2003, 08:54 PM

stock for stock the 400ex frame is much stronger than the z 400, the 400ex frames cracking is not a recognizable problem, i dont recall anyone breaking frames and badly cracking them and needing to get them warrantied, it doesnt really matter tho, u race it youll break it, just get whatever one u might like to ride more

kgbg

11-03-2003, 02:49 PM

What he said. Freeride is right.
If I contradicted myself, I am sorry. I like the motor in a z400, better than a 400ex, but I like the frame of a 400ex better. Clear?

chucked

11-03-2003, 07:29 PM

i LOVE the z-400's, the ONLY reason I have a 400ex and not a z400 is because parts are dirt cheap.

kfxrida69

12-02-2003, 06:33 PM

I have 03 kfx and i luv it . i bought it in June of 03 i wanted to kno if i have n e thing to look 4 on my frame or was the problem fixed by then.

Atreyu

12-02-2003, 07:12 PM

Well if your on a budget, get the ex because they're much cheaper now.

Woody_YFZ

12-02-2003, 09:39 PM

I would keep the EX if you're on a budget. I have a KFX and my buddy has a Z400 and my buddy bent his axle on his Z on a 90' table, which is good because now he has a wider axle that he needed anyway. Neither one of our machines has any cracks. Yes they do have stress marks, but no more than my other two buddy's 400EX's and one never goes higher than about 5' in the air. I think the frame problem is a little exaggerated. Not saying they don't have frame problems.

TGW_400ex

12-03-2003, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Woody_YFZ
I would keep the EX if you're on a budget. I have a KFX and my buddy has a Z400 and my buddy bent his axle on his Z on a 90' table, which is good because now he has a wider axle that he needed anyway. Neither one of our machines has any cracks. Yes they do have stress marks, but no more than my other two buddy's 400EX's and one never goes higher than about 5' in the air. I think the frame problem is a little exaggerated. Not saying they don't have frame problems.

Yea but how long has your buddy's had their EX's?